Internal-combustion-engine equipment



Dec. 11, 1923. 1,477,188

- G. A. SAFSTROM INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EQUIPMENT Filed Nov. 20. 1922 2 Shoots-Sheet 1 a ym 2 rfi a M 1. m 1 w H j 3 w 1 T 2 mmm mm .4 r. IV 7 um mw amm W Dec. 11 1923.

Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES GUSTAF A. SAFSTROM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION-ENGINE EQUIPMENT.

Application filed November 20, 1922. Serial No. 602,005.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAF A. SAFsTRoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Internal-Combustion-En gine Equipments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments to the motors of automobiles and, more particular ly, to the well-known Ford engine.

One of my objects is to provide a timer device which may be substituted for the timer device supplied as a part of the equipment of a Ford engine by whichthe contact elements of the timer device may be located at a point sufficiently remote fromthe operating parts of the engine that they will remain relativel free of oil and dirt and be readily accessible for purposes of adjustment, repair and cleansing.

Another object is to provide a rigid and economical construction of so-called extension timer device.

Another object is to provide for the ready and accurate adjustment of the rotary contact member for the purpose of accurately timing the spark relative to the position of the pistons from which position provision is made for advancing the spark.

Another objectis to provide an arrange ment of mechanism for advancing and re tarding the spark, which will not require the necessity ofboring any additional holes in the motor. I 1

Another object is to provide as an attachment for the motor an improved form of extension filler tube bythe use of which the lubricating oil in the crank-case, in the tbreathin of themotor will not be forced through t e apertured cap of the filler tube.

Another object is to provide an improved construction of filler tube which will permit the extension timer to be secured in a osition on the motor wherein the head 0 the timer islocatod closely adjacent to and above thefiller tube, without unduly obstructing free access to the tubefor the purpose of charging-lubricating oilinto the crank-case.

Another object is to provide an extension timer so. positioned'thatit will not interfere with the adjusting of the fan-belt-adj'usting screw of. the motor and withewhichthe current-conductingwires,commonly provided as a part of the motor installation may be used without change.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a View in front elevation of the well-known Ford motor, showing it as equipped with my improvements. Figure 2 1s a view in sectional elevation of the cxten sion timer, showing the cam-shaft of the engine in section. Figure 3 is a view in vertical sectional elevation of the extension filler tube employed. Figure 4 is a section taken at the line 44 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and Figure 5, an enlarged section taken at the line 5-5 on Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 vof the drawings, the extension timer, device therein shown comprises a housing member 5 of general cup shape and of such dimensions as to permit it to be substituted for the regular Ford timer casing positioned on the end plate 6 of the engine and located at the end of the camshaft 7 thereof which is equipped with the gear 8. The Ford motor referred to is provided with a spring arm 9 pivoted to the engine casing at 10 and bearing against the end of the timer casing, the arm 9, in the substitution of my casing 5 for the timer casing formed as a part of the Ford equipment, operating to hold the timer casing 5 in'place, itbeing preferred that a clamping arm, represented at 1]. and supplementing the arm 9, be provided. The arm 11, which is of spring metal, is shown as pivotally connected at 12 with the end Wall 6 of the motor casing and operates under its spring tension to exert at its outer, free end clamping force against the casing 5, pressing the latter to its seat. In the particular arrangement shown the outer, free, ends of the arms 9 and 10 are arranged in overlapped position at the central portion of the casing 5.

The casing contains an opening 13, tangentially disposed to theaxis of the casing in which opening the lower end of a tube 14 extends and is rigidly secured, against rotation therein, by means of a set-screw 15. The upper end of the tube 14 extends into, and is rigidly secured in, the stationary base-section 16 of the head of the timer. these parts being connected together through the medium of the set-screw 17 The other,

top, section of the casing of the timer is represented at 18, this section being of general cup shape and telescopingat its lower, open, end with the base section 16, as shown, and adapted for rotation upon the said base section, the section 18 being shown as held against accidental displacement on the section 1.6, by means of a spring arm 19 pivotally connected, as by means of a screw 20, with an extension of the base section 16, a spacer tube 22 being shown as surrounding; the pivot 20 and interposed between the spring arm 19 and the extension 21, The outer, free, end of the arm 21 is provided with a orojection 23 wl ich seats in a depres sion 24- the topof the casing: section 18, this arm, while holding the section 18 on the base section 16, permitting the former to be rotated relative to the latter. The stationar contacts of the timer, which may be of a construction commonly employed, are located within, and carried by, the casing section 18 to be adjustable therewith about the axis of the casing.

The rotary contact of the timer which, in the operation of the latter, is ca sed to move, in succession, into engagement with the stationary contacts referred to, this rotatable Contact; being; represented at 25 and being shown as in the form of a roller, is carried on the upper end of a shaft 26, the roller 25; being shown as ournaled on a pin 27 mounted its ends in spaced-apart ears )8 projecting laterally from sleeve 2 9 surround ing the upper end of theshaftand confined thereon between a flange 30 on this shaft and a nut 31 screwed on the latter, with a washer 32 interposed between the nut and sleeve. The shaft 26 is located. within the tube 14 and is rotatable therein, its lower end being journaled in a bearing 33 carried by the casino; 5, this bearing being spaced from the wall. of the casing containing; the opening 13, The shaft 26 is provided below the tube 13 and above the bearing 33 with a worm gear 34- rigidly secured thereon and meshing with the gear 8 on the camshaft 7 whereby the rotatable contact 25 is driven from the shaft 7 through the medium of the gears 8 and 3e, and shaft 26. Below the gear the shaft 26 is provided with a collar 85 which aids in holding the shaft 26 against longi udinal movement.

The extension timer is applied to the easing of the engine, with the clamping arms 9 and 11 engaging" the casing. 5, to extend in the position shown in Fig. l, in which position the timer structure is supported at its upper end on the eXtei-ision of the filler tube hereinafter described.

Means, operable by the driver of the car, are provided for advancing and retarding the spark, these means, in accordance with the particular structure shown, comprising a link 36 pivoted at a deflected end 37 there f in a bearing clip 38 secured to th cas iection 18 at one side of the axis the f, the opposite end of this link being pivotally connected at 3'2" with the end of one arm of a bell-crank lever 39, the other it) of which is pivotally connector at 4t]. u c.l upper end of a linlr t2 which would be con netted its lower end with the crank-per tion of the shaft of the timer-setting mocha-- nisin as commonly provided on the Ford automobile. The bell-cra 39 is shown pivoted at its angle by a pivoting screw (t?) which is provided. to take the place of one of the screws commonly provided as rt of the Ford motor for holding the "-7 connection ie in place on the motor The pivoting; screw i3, shown in detail in Fig. 5, is provided with a threaded portion 4:5 at which it extends through the aperture in the flange of the connection @431 and screws into the casing of the motor as shown, The end of the screw beyond the connection 14 is of such form, as represented 46, to adapt the screw to be screwed into place by the application of awronch thereto The no screw 415 beyond the portion 4:6 in form of a stud 4'? which extends through angle of the lever i0 at'which portion; the screw forms a journal support for this lever, the lever it) being held on said stud against as accidental disengagement therefrom by a cotter pin located in crosswise-extending aperture in the outer end of the stud washer 101 being interposed between the rever 40 and the cotter pin 100.

Referring now to the filler tube extension, the filler tube provided as a p of the standard equipment of the motor is repre sented at l8, the upper end of this tube be ing commonly provided with a breather cap. My extension filler tube is provided for a sembly with a filler tube 48 at the per inlet end of the latter, the breather cap Tu Y having been removed, this extension tiller tube shown in l, 3 and 4t, in accordance with the particular illustratedconstri 'on thereof, being formed, as by rom casting it i. metal, orotherwise forming it, as desired, to provide a substantially vertically disposed portion d9 from which the tubular depending portion 50, of slightly reduced diameter de pends, the portion 50 being of springy metal and containing upwardly extending slots 51, as in the case of the breather cap commonly employed, and adapting the extension filler tube to be applied to position on the filler tube 48 by telescoping with the latter the part 50. The extension filler tube also is, formed of an upwardlyextending tubular portion 52 located'to one side of the portion d9 and in communication with the latter through the intermediate, crosswise-extending tubular portion 53, it being intended that the upper, open, end of the portion 52 be equipped with a breather cap 52 of any suitable construction, as, for example, that shown and which is of a construction commonly provided as the standard equipment of a Ford motor. It is preferred that the upper end of the portion 52 be of such size and shape as to receive the particular breather cap provided as a part of the motor and to which the motor filler extension tube is applied so that the breather cap supplied with the motor to which the extension filler tube is applied, may be used at the inlet end of the exten sion filler tube. It will be noted that the extension filler tube thus presents a wall, repre sented at 54, which extends into the path of the oil which is forced upwardly and out of the filler tube 48 in the breathing of the engine, and thus operates tocause the oil to precipitate in the extension filler tube and flow back into the crank-case, with the manifest advantage of avoiding discharge of the oil through the breather cap at the top of the filler tube extension.

The extension timer device applied to the motor in. the position as shown and described, extends into such a positionthat unless an extension filler tube providing for the oil filling opening, to one side of the tiller tube 48, is provided, the extension timing, device would render difiicult, if not impossible, the charging of the crank-case with oil. By employing my extension filler tube, which is preferably assembled with the filler tube 48 to a position in which the portion 53 of the extension filler tube extends rearwardly, the inlet of the extension filler tube is caused to extend. to one side of the extension timer, preferably rearwardly thereof, as shown, and. in such position that oil may be readily poured into the crank-case without disturbing the position of the extension timer and without danger of pouring oil on the latter.

In accordance with the particular construction shown, it is desired that the extension filler tube serve as a support for the up per end portion of the extension timer, which latter rests at the portion thereof between the casing 5 and the section 18, upon the extension fi ler tube in crosswise-extending position, it being preferred that the portion of the extension filler tube which is contacted by the extension timer, as stated, be formed with a recess 55, presenting an inclined bottom wall 56 which extends generally parallel with the portion of the extension timer directly opposed thereto, it being understood that this recess is provided on the exterior of the extension filler tube.

It will be understood from the foregoing that by causing the extension timer device to extend to the left of the cam-shaft 7 the extension timer may be provided of relatively short length and the head of the timer may be so disposed, as shown, that the head of the timer and the parts therein will be readily accessible for repair, adjustment and cleansing, anawin extend in such position that it will be practically free of accumulations of oil'and dirt thereon from the engine.

l urthcrm'ore, the arrangement of the extension timer, as stated, renders the structure very rigid and stable.

The construction and arrangement of the mechanism by which the section 18 of the timer head carrying the stationary contacts may be adjusted relative to the contact carried by the shaft 26, for advancing and retarding the spark, is a highly desirable arrangement not only because. such adjustment may be readily eflected and this mechanism operate positively, but because it may be supported without requiring the boring of additional holes in the Ford motor as com-- monly provided, it being necessary only that one of the screws commonly provided for holding the connection 4A in place be replaced by the pivoting screw 43.

The feature of mounting the contact 25 on the shaft 26 in a manner to permit this contact to be adjusted into different posi tions about the axis of this shaft, as stated, is of advantage as it permits of the accurate timing of the spark relatix e to the position of the pistons, from which position provision is madeior advancing the spark, by a readily-performed operation, as compared with the operation required to be performed in the use of other constructions of timing devices.

Another advantage providing the ex-. tension timer as stated is that the currentconducting wires as provided in the regular Ford equipment may be attached to the binding posts of the timer extension.

It will furthermore be stated that the extension timer provided is so positioned as to avoid interference with the adjusting of the fan-belt-adjusting screw of the motor represented at 102. V

lVhile I have illustrated and described a certain construction embodying the features of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto, as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention, and. in this connection it may be stated that while l have described the extension timer, with its operating mechanism and the extension tiller tube as applied to a motor of the type mated, as furnished to the public, it will be readily understood that, if desired, these parts may be provided initially with the motor, as distinguished from providing them as substitutes for other parts in original installations.

That I chi as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a motor of the Ford type, an extension timer applied to Ito the casing of the motor at the outer end of the cam-shaft thereof, the contacts of said extension timer relative to which the rotary contact thereof moves being adjustable about said rotary contact, and means for adjusting said first-referred-to contacts comprising a lever fulcrumed on a pivot device secured in. the openings in the motor casing and in one side of the flange of the water-connection provided in the motor and substituted for the securing device located in said openings.

in combination with a motor of the Ford type, an extension timer applied to the of the motor at the outer end of the cam-shaft thereof and extending upwardly in a direction away from the crankshaft of the motor toward the oil filler tube, the contacts of said extension timer rela tive to which the rotary contact thereof moves being adjustable about said rotary contact, and means for adjusting said first referred-to contacts comprising a lever fulcrumcd on a pivot device secured in the openings in the motor casing and in one side of the flange of the water-connection as provided in the motor and substituted for the securing device located in said openings.

3. In combination with a motor of the Ford type, an extension timer applied to the casing of the motor at the outer end of the cam-shaft thereof and formed of a supporting part comprising parts rigidly connected together against relative rotation and a head having a portion at the upper extremity of the extension timer carrying the stationary contacts thereof and rotatably supported at a point closely adjacent the upper extremity of the device, and means for adjusting said stationary contacts comprising a lever fulcrumed on a pivot device secured in the openings in the motor casing and in one side of the flange of the waterconnection as provided in the motor and substituted for the securing device lo cated in said openings.

4:. In combination with a motor of the Fordtype, an extension timer applied to the casing of the motor at the outer end of the camshaft thereof, the contacts of said extension timer relative towhich the rotary contact moves being adjustable about said rotary contact, and means for adjusting said stationary contacts comprising a bellcrank-lever fulcrumed on a pivot devicesecured in the openings in the motor casing and in one side of the flange of the waterconnection as prox' ided in the motor and substituted for the securing device located in said openings, and links pi-votally connected with the arms of said bell-crank.

5. In combination with. a motor of the Ford type, an extension timer adapted to be applied to the casing of the motor at the place occupied by the timer on the motor and as a substitute therefor, and an extension oil filler tube on the oil filler tube of the mot r, said extension tube having upwardly-extending, hollow portions connected at ends thereof by a hollow portion disposed crosswise thereof, said extension tube containing a recess in its upper surface, and said extension timer extending into therecess in said tube.

6. In combination with a motor of the Ford type, an extension timer adapted to be applied to the casing of the motor at the place occupied by the timer on the motor and as a substitute therefor, and an extension oil filler tube on the oil filler tube of the motor, said extension tube having upwardly-extending hollow portions connected at ends thereof by a hollow portion. disposed crosswise thereof and extending lengthwise of the crank shaft of the motor, said crosswise-extending portion presenting at its upper side a substantial y flat surface, and said last-referred'to portion containing an upwardly opening'recess and said extension timer extending into the recess in said tube.

ousrar a. SAFSTROM. 

